Elevator



Feb. 27, 1945. c. D. HATHCOCK ELEVATOR Filed June 28 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

Feb. 27, 1945. v c HATHCQCK 2,370,310

ELEVATOR Filed June 28, 1944 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 Feb. 27, 1945. c. D. HATHCOCK 2,370;

ELEVATOR Filed June 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES P TENT ELEVATOR Craven p: Haithcdck, Oklahoma City; fikla.

. Application June..'28, 1944; Serial Monica-.507

reclaims. worm-.90)

My invention relates \to-elevators for handling pipe, particularly drill pipe, ina well derrick.

The present invention pertains-to elevators for lowering and raising-pipe into and -out'-0fwells, more particularly oil wells;-andrelates more specifically to elevators of i the jaw-type, wherein two arcuate body halves or members-archinged together at the rear, so that their forward edges may be swung together to surrorind-orenvelope a pipe beneath a shoulder thereon.

The primeobject of 4 the present inventiomis to provide, in a jaw-type elevator,-a-horizontally moving latch-or lockfor the forward edgespf the body halves.

A further object is toprovide, in such-an elevator,- a latch orlocking mechanism whichis means; which cannot beinadvertently fouledand released bycontactwithderrick-members; cables, or other elements usually'presentrin, an oil-well derrick.

'stillanother object of-the presenttinvention is-to supply an elevatorof 'theclass-"described, which "is so designed-that it; maybe made for either a left or right handed operation; or: both.

Yet another object is to provide alocking mechanism which will not become opened through jarring or through-vibration ofx'the body halves.

' Other objects will be apparent-from the'following descripti'onwhen taken in connection and in conjunction with the accompanying four-sheet drawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective-view of the elevator closed, and looking; slightly downwardlythereon from a point in front and slightly to the lefthand thereof;

' Figure 2 is a; perspective view 'oftheelevator open, and looking'slightly upwardly from-a point directly in front-of the same;

Figure: 3 is a" fragmentary perspective view of the front portion of-the--right=-hand-body-half, the front plate having been removed to disclose aportion of the 1 latch operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a perspectiveview of the front plate which has beenremoved and =turncd =back from the body half-of Figure 3 the-plate bein'g shown as containing a portion of the latch operatively mounted therein;

Figure '5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper'portion-of Figure l, and disclosing further the iatch operating mochamsm;

Figure 6' is i a? fragmentary vertical sectional view through the *upper portionof Figure 3;and disclosinga further portion of the -latch operating mechanism; i

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front-portion ofithe left: hand body half; the

frontplate' havingbeenremoved and swungback to disclose the 'left'hand-porti'on of" the latch mechanism;

' Figure 8 is 'a 'fragmentary vertical sectional view.throughfithejfront plate of Figure 7, and disclosing aportion of the latch operatingmech- Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective "View detailing the relative positions of female. and. male latchmembers asthey are .on the verge'ot becoming intereengaged; v j

Figure '10 is a similar view, shawiugtheenga'gement partially completed; f

'fFigure ii is, a fragmentary vertical; sectional view'through the" female latch .memberqor socket, and showing .the male. latch, member engaged therein} Figure 12 is: a vertical sectional .view-takenu-pon the plane ,of Figure-8, but'gdisclosine.alslight y different embodiment Lof. rlatch operating mechanism; and, v I

Figure 13v isapers'pective view of .asimilarembodiment 0f: latch operating mechanisms -.applied to. the right hand elcliatonbody-half,

.- Like. characters of reference-desi nate like parts in all the figurestwherein they; occur.

cInthadrawings:

:The referenceycharacter;.A indicates; thealeft hand Jb Yi' half; or;. member, -.:l o,oking. from ;:the

front; .ofi theaelevatonzanct B ;zindicatesi the-ri h Bzzar proridedvwith;interensa in ;;hinge loops: 9

which are iverticallylbored .alignedlymo ,receivma hinge-pin; lll...where by.;the ironte ees ofathev two which grooves.combine,zwhentthezbodyihalveaare closed together-Jerome :centralbore l 3.,aclapted to closely envelope the pipe section II beneath an enlargement |4 carried thereby.

The body halves A and B are each provided with laterally projecting bail arms l5 and I6 which are vertically spaced from each other to receive therebetween a usual elevator bail, not shown, for operatively supporting the elevator in a well derrick in a usual manner. Removable pins H are provided to span the space between the arms l5 and I6 so as to retain the bails in place.

The mechanism thus far described, the parts of which have been indicated by the reference numerals 9 to I! inclusive, is not new nor is it individual to this particular invention alone, since a similar structure is found in most well pipe elevators of the jaw type.

The invention per se resides at the means for latching the forward edges of the two body halves together, and in the mechanism for locking and unlocking the latching means. This structure will be next described.

The front edge or face 20 ofthe body half B is provided with a cavity 2 I, the majority of which is open to the face 29, but which has an upwardly extending portion 22 communicating at its upper end with a horizontally extending portion 23.

g body half B. The latch body 39 ha a pin 44 which extends through two oppositely positioned I longitudinally extending slots in the sleeve 4|.

One of the slots is shown in Fig. 4 and is indicated by the reference numeral 45. It may therefore be end portion 48. The handle 4'! and portion 46 The cavity portion 23, at its left hand end has a lateral bored portion 24 which extends through the left hand face25 of the body half B (Fig. 6). Reciprocably. mounted in the bored portion 24 is a plunger 26 having, within the cavity portion 23, an enlargement or head 21. A compression sprin 28 engages the head 21 and extends beyond the head toward the right hand end of the cavity portion 23. A threaded plug or adjustment screw 29 is provided in a suitable perforation in the cavity wall 30 which lies at the right hand end ofthe cavity portion 23, and the screw 29 bears against the spring 28. The spring 28 urges the plunger 26 toward the left hand end of its throw, or-into a .position in which the plunger projects beyond the face 25 and toward the body half A. It is apparent that when the two body halves A and B are swung together upon the hinge pin III, the leftwardly projecting portion of the plunger 26 will contact the right hand face 3| of the body half A, and the plunger will be moved toward the right hand against'the action of the spring 28. The office of the plunger will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The front face 20 of the body half B is adapted by horizontal shoulders 32 and 33 to receive a flat face 34 of a latch housing 35 (Fig. 4). The housing 35 has a cavity 36 which is open at the face 34 and which is also open at the ed e 31 of the housing. The 'edge 31 forms a continuation of the edge 25 of the body half B, when the housing is mounted between the shoulders 32 and 33 thereof. The cavity 36 of the latch housing 35 registers with and forms a continuation of the cavity 2| in the body half B when the housing 35 is mounted upon the body B in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Suds 38 act to hold the housing 35 in place upon the body half B.

As best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the cavity 36 in the housing 35 contains a substantially cylindrical latch body 39 which is solid (Fig. 5), and

which has at one end a horizontally projecting are provided with a continuous longitudinal through bore 49. An actuating cable 50, or other suitable element, extends through the bore 49 and its inner end is anchored by a stud 5| to the exterior surface of the split ring 42. The stud 5| also extends through the ring 42 and into the sleeve 4| so that the ring and sleeve must rotate in unison. A hand hold knob 52 is provided on the outer end of the cable 50 whereby the cable may be longitudinally pulled manually by an operator. A longitudinal pull upon the knob 52 will obviously cause a partial rotation of the ring 42, sleeve 4|, latch body 39 and rod 46. The omce of such 'rotative movement will be more fully described hereinbelow.

As explained hereinabove, the latch body 39, and consequently the rod 40, are permitted both rotative and longitudinal movement within the cavities2l and 36 when the latch housing 35 is in place upon the body half B.

Longitudinal movement of the latch body 38 and rod 49 toward the body half A is accomplished through the hereinabove described movement of the plunger 26 toward the right hand through contact with the face 3| of the body half A as the body halves are closed together. This is brought about by the structure next described hereinbelow.

The head 21 of the plunger 26 is equipped with two oppositely disposed outwardly projecting pins or trunnions, one of which isindicated in Fig. 6 by the reference numeral 53. A yoke 54 is pivotally mounted to the body half B by a pivot pin 54 carried by a removable plate 55 mounted by studs 56 to span the upper portion 22 of the cavity 2| (Fig. 3). A perforation 51 in the yokereceives the pivot pin 54 for this purpose. One end portion of the yoke 53 extends into the cavity 23, and this end is bifurcated to form two legs or tines 58'having notches in their ends to engage the two trunnions 53 on the head 21 of the plunger 26 (Fig. 6) The opposite end portion of the yoke 53 extends into the cavity 2|, and is also bifurcated to form two arcuate legs or tines 59. The tines 59 have end portions 60 bent toward each other, and these end portions 60 straddle the latch body 39 and engage with a superficial groove 6| surrounding the same. It may readily be seen that when the plunger 26 isurged toward the right hand against the action of the spring 28, the tines 59 will, due to the pivot pin 54, be urged toward the left hand. Such movement of the tines 59 will cause the latch body 39 and rod 40 to also move toward the left hand, or in other words, toward the body half A. The object of such longitudinal movement of the latch body 39 and rod 40 will be more fully described hereinbelow. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the portion of the latch and latch operatingmechanism which is housed in the bo y halfAwill ne be s i e ega'io eioe thelatch housing nus shown ashaving been 'm swung outwardly from itsnormal =pos-ition:upon

fiat -face 141* of the ==latch I housing I3 ar e eac lrprovided: with one-half ofa l machined cavity-for rotatablyjournalling the female porti'on" -76 of the-=body latching mechanism; lir Figi For the female-latch portion or member lfi' is show-rims being operative'lyunested in"the cawty por-tionll4 v termed in'the" housing 13, and consequently'that v portion of the cavity ;is-=practieauyau hidd'n 'b'y" the latch memloer I6?- Howeven' th hiddh portion- 84 ='0-f- Ethe cavity is "identical With' the' por=' tion ca-rrie'de. by theflat face 10 0f the body' half- A? This=latter cavity-portion-dsindicated 'as*'a*'-' whole by the reference numeral???and will-be" more only described hereinbelowf 'I'h'e -female latch? member I6 is composed-sub stant'ially of I an-"elon-gatedelement l8 havi-ng an end' iportion TS eXtending to or slightly beyond the right hand edge 80 0f the housing-132 THe-'- end po-rtion' l9 1 has a longitudinal sulo'stantially oval bore 81 whichcommunicates with an en larged socket "or" cavity-82, the 1 wall of which'-is* circular. Ah abrupt' -annular shoulder 33 1's pro' displacement of the-element 18i Adjacent theshoulder? 94, the element IB -is" provided with'a' smooth annular surf ace 955 As best" illustrated in Fig. "7; th'e cavity 'l'l in the flat face lfl of the bod-y half A an'- arcuat eportion; Sli -for joumalling the-end portion19 oiiith'e element 18;: has a similar portiomill' for" n'es'ting lthe'bearing fl, has ia portion98 for nest ing -therbearing fl; and has a portion 99"=for--jour=- nalll'ing the left hand end of the element I81- The'-= cavity is also formed with an annular shoulder I00: -for bearing-against theshou-lder 94 0f the element-18 to preventits longitudinal movement.

As :illustrated in Flgs;-'-1, 2, 7'an'd 8 the lat'ch housing?! 3 has a forwardly projecting rigid ha'n' dl'e? IO'I similar inexterior form to -hahdle 41 on the latch housing 35. The handle llll has a downwardly turned free end portion I 02; and a bore: I [H -extends: longitudinally within the ban die"; to communicate at its inner end with" the cavity,- 84' in :theilatchl body;

As awmeansisfor manually rotating the female latch element 18 within the cavities II and 84? a cable -'I M- is provideddmthe'hore I032 The in-- neriiend- :ofi: the ,cable I 04 is: attached by an ey'e I 05* andi stud 1106 :to :th'e surface' 95i crane-later elementflss I 'ih'escableel 04eextendsiover sheaveso IU'IK and i I ntrwithizmtheziborei I03 toofa'cilitate l its longitudihal..= movement :b'y manually pulli ngo up'on a knobslflil'l at thee-outer enda ofithe cable. A: downwardlpull :uponfisaid knobowill partiallyr rotate the latch element 18 in an'olovious manneri III-Figs. 4, 9, 10 and'lll the -rod 'lfl is shown' as havingra substantially: rectangularienlargement-i or head] I0 upont-its free'endi Theih'eadr'l lfl fhas i an'outrib'evelled side :I I I and arcuate ends I I2,

and 'is lot a dimension" :to "pass through the ovalbore:- 8| 1 of: the. female latchsielement JB if the head i is properly: rotated 1 to coincide :with: the bore as @the two body halves AandiiB are lsw-un'g i together." Airetrievingspringzl I3 zis'fattached at on'e'end of the=studi5I -Fig. 4); and its other end? (Fig; 3) is I attached tin i anyl suitable mannerthe'walli of theicavity ll; This spring II3' actsto normallyhold the latchbody'-39 in aposition at which'th'essides and ends of the head I I0 'do": not'coincide with the sides and ends of the oval bore -.8l in the ifemale' latch ele'ment 18$v In a similar manner, the latch element a'l8 'h'asa re trievingwspring II4 which normally :h'olds-it i a radial position in which its sides and ends dd not' coincide with the sides and ends of the head- I I01 Wh'en the two body halves A'and B *are" swung together from the rposition shown in Figs 2-,- 'th'e bevelled side III of :the "head- Ilfl contacts the ,arcuate surfaces 81 and 89 or the arcuate su'r face-s 86"and-' fllli as'the case: may bei and these arcuate surfaces cause th'e' head" I I0 rod lfl an d- T latch element 39 to rotate so that'the hea'd will coincide with the oval loo-re 8| of the female ,latch' element 'lfl 'and will enter the bore 81 5 and pass beyond 'the shoulder 83 (Fig;- 11) into the chamber: 82, The spring I I3 Will then return the head- I Ii) to its original axial positiorrat* which time the head -Wi1l-thBr1 fbepositivelyen gaged with the shoulder 831 The body "halvesA' and B will thereforebe positively latched" to gether. It is possible and "probable that "duringthe engaging movement of I the head I l0- and" shoulder 83; the" female latch element 18' wi-llpartially rotate against the retrieving a'ction of the spring I I 3, and if such movement occurs, the" element l8-willreturn to its original axial positionlas soon as-theheadd Illpasses theshould'er 83. The relative rotation-of the head I I 0"and.

- the cable I M will rotateeither theheadfl I II or I I0 to move longitudinally intothe oval bore BI of the femalelatch element 181' It is'obvi'ous that project beyond the edge 31 of thelatchhousihg" 35} it would enter the "bore 81 toapoint'beyondf the shoulder 83*without the'p'resen'ce ofthe' plunger ZSand yoke 53. In such a structure; however, the head llll 'might interfere with the free entry and removal of the pipe II With'rela tion to the' elevator bore' l3f It is also thought to be obviousthat the latching mechanism would function'suitablyif one of the latch elements, either 39 orWS Were" to beheld against r'otation In i such a" structure only 'one' or the cables and actuating knobs would be necessary, but the device could not be operated with both the right and the left hand of the operator. It is thought the operation of the device will be apparent from the above description without further elucidation.

In Figs. 12 and 13 is shown a slightly difierent mechanical arrangement for manually rotating.

the latch element 39, rod 40 and head IID.

. In this embodiment, the inner end of the latch body 39 is provided with an integral axial stem I to which is keyed or pinned a transverse arm I2I having an elongated through slot I22 in its projecting bifurcated end portion I23. A pull rod I24 extends through the longitudinal bore 49 in the handle 41 and has its flattened end I25 interposed between the legs of said bifurcated end portion I23. A transverse pin I26 passes through the slot I22 and flattened end portion I25 of the pull rod to engage the rod I24 and the arm I2I. The outer end of the pull rod I24 is provided with a perpendicular handle I2! by which the rod may be moved manually in an outward direction with relation to the handle 41. A spring I29 acts to return the pull rod I24 to the inner end of its throw.

Obviously a similar actuating mechanism could well be used to manually rotate the female latch element I8 in lieu of the cable I04 and knob I99 if desired.

It is thought that the mechanism described hereinabove will accomplish all of the objects and purposes set forth.

I claim:

1. In a well pipe elevator, the combination with two arcuate hinged together body halves adapted to be swung together to surround a pipe, of a latching mechanism for holding the two body halves in closed relation, including: a tubular female latch element rotatably'carried by one body half at the free end thereof; a neck at one end of said element having a substantially oval bore with an open end presented toward the free end of the other body half; an enlarged socket within the latch element at the inner end of said oval bore; an annular shoulder surrounding the inner end of said bore; a male latch element carried by the other body half and having a head shaped to enter the bore of said neck when the two latch elements are in proper relativ radial positions;

and means for automatically rotating a latch element to engage the head on the shoulder after said head has entered said socket.

2. In a well pipe elevator, the combination with two arcuate hinged together body halves adapted i to be swung together to surround a pipe, of a latching mechanism for holding the two body halves in closed relation, including: a tubular female latch element carried by one body half at the free end thereof; a neck at one end of said element having a substantially oval bore with an open end presented toward the free end of the other body half; an enlarged socket within the latch element at the inner end of said oval bore;

an annular shoulder surrounding the inner end of said bore; a male latch element rotatably carried by the other body half and having a head shapedto enter the bore of said neck when the two latch elements are in proper relative radial positions; and means for automatically rotating a' latch element to engage the head on the shoulder after said head has entered said socket.

3. In a well pipe elevator, the combination with two arcuate hinged together body halves adapted to be swung together to surround a pipe, of a latching mechanism for holding the two body halves in closed relation, including: a tubular female latch element rotatably carried by one body half at the free end thereof; a neck at one end of said element having ,a substantially ovalv bore with an open end presented toward the free end of the other body half; an enlarged socket within the latch element at the-inner end of said oval bore; an annular shoulder surrounding the inner end of said bore; a male latch element rotatably carried by the other body half and having a head shaped to enter the bore of said neck when the two latch elements are in proper relativ radial positions; and means for automatically rotating alatch element to engage the head on the shoulder after said head has entered sa'id socket.

4. Organization as described in claim 1, and means for manually partially rotating the rotatable latch element to a radial position in which the head may be withdrawn from said socket through the bore of said neck.

5. Organization as described in claim 2, and means for manually partially rotating the rotatable latch element to a radial position in which the head may be withdrawn from, said socket through the bore of said neck.

6. Organization as described in claim 3, and means for manually partially rotating one of said latch elements to a radial position in which the head may be withdrawn from said socket through the bore of said neck.

7. Organization as described in claim 3, and means for manually partially rotating both of said latch elements to radial positions in which the head may be withdrawn from said socket through the bore of said neck.

8. Organization as described in claim 1, and means for automatically partially rotating the rotatable latch element, to a radial position which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

9. Organization as described in claim 2, and means for automatically partially rotating the rotatable latch element, to a radial position in which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

10. Organization as described in claim 3, and means for automatically partially rotating at least one of said latch elements to a radial position in which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free end of the two body halves are swung together.

11. Organization as described in claim 1, and means for automatically moving one of the latch elements longitudinally in its supporting body half, toward the other latch element, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

12. Organization as described in claim 2, and means for automatically moving one of the latch elements longitudinally in its supporting body half, toward theother latch element, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

13.-Organization as described in claim 3, and means for automatically moving one of the latch elements longitudinally in its supporting body half, toward the other latch element, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

14. Organization as described in claim 1, and: means for automatically partially rotating the rotatable latch element to a radial position in which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together; and means for auto matically moving one of said latch elements longitudinally in its supporting body half toward the other latch element when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

15. Organization as described in claim 2, and: means for automatically partially rotating the rotatable latch element to a radial positionin which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together; and means for automatically moving one of said latch elements longitudlnally in its supporting body half, toward the other latch element, when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

16. Organization as described in claim 3, and: means for automatically partially rotating the rotatable latch element to a radial position in which the head will automatically enter the bore of said neck, when the free ends of the two body halves are'swung together; and means for automatically moving one of said latch elements longitudinally in its supporting body hal1 toward the other latch element when the free ends of the two body halves are swung together.

CRAVEN D. HATHCOCK. 

